U.S.-backed Syrian force to start ‘final battle’ against IS enclave

BEIRUT (Reuters) – The U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) will start an assault on Saturday against Islamic State’s last enclave in the part of Syria where the U.S.-led coalition has been supporting operations against the group, an SDF official told Reuters.

“The battle will be launched this evening and its mission will be to eliminate the last remnants of the terrorist organization,” Mustafa Bali, the head of the SDF media office, said, describing it as the “last battle”.

He said in the last 10 days SDF fighters had handled the battle “patiently” as civilians were evacuated from the besieged enclave comprising two villages near the Iraqi border. More than 20,000 had been evacuated, he said.

Reporting by Rodi Said in Syria; Writing by Tom Perry in Beirut; Editing by Alexander Smith